C'mon- 1776
What's the coolest rating?

Atenean is incorrect.
The correct answer is that 1337 is internet leet-speak. Leet is internet for "elite", for starters. 1337 is leetspeak for leet.
leet = 1337. (see how the numbers spell the word?)
To be "leet" in internet terminology is to be skilled, saavy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leet
It stresses me how unaware of the internet at large chess.com denizens seem to be, really. You seem incapable of handling real trolls, unaware of internet message board general protocol and humor, and unaware of even basic internet memeology. It's almost as if you're like, chess nerds or something. Oh wait...
LOL...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0jyKabLHVc&feature=related
1464